Detachable box-handle.



E. S. PORTER.

DETACHABLE BOX HA APPLICATION FILED 050.5, i916.

NDLE.

mated Dec. 25, 191? unrrnn srxrns rerun FFICE.

EDGAR S. PORTER, OF CLIFTON, COLORADO.

DETACHABLE BOX-HANDLE Application filed December 5, 1916.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR S. Ponrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clifton, Mesa county, and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Detachable Box-Handle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to detachable box handles.

My'object is to provide a handle devlce for boxes including a handle and means in connection therewith for engaging the Walls of a box, whereby the box will be gripped as an-incident to and by the power applied for the purpose of lifting the box by the handle device.

-Another object is to provide a device for lifting boxes, comprising an element arranged to engage the wall of the box when power is applied to the handle portion there of and means for holding the device in connection with the box wall to prevent disengagement when the box is lifted thereby.

Another object is to provide a device of the character mentioned, comprising a bracket adapted to be placed adjacent to the wall of the box and a handle member pivoted to the bracket and having a gripping portion which is pressed into engagement with the box wall by the power applied to the handle in lifting the box when the device is applied in connection therewith.

Other objects and advantageous features will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred forms of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a box with portions of the side walls removed to illustrate my improved detachable handles in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a covered or closed box illustrating the form and construction of my invention for lifting a box of that kind.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the box and handle device illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the detachable handle device of the type illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 7 er Fig. 4. Y

i The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 comprises a bracket 1 001m posed of inner and outer arms adapted to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25 1917.

Serial No. 135,100.

tion with the extension 2. The arms 5 have upwardly extended portions 7 arranged to operated at the sides of the bracket 1 and to be pressed into engagement with the wall of the box when the handle is engaged and lifted. Thus, the gripping devices are pressed into engagement with the box wall with the pressure commensurate to the weight of the box, so that the handles will not become detached irrespective of the weight of the box lifted thereby. It will be observed byreference to Fig. 5 that the gripping device will be released by the weight of the handle automatically, but on some occasions it may be desired to combine with the handle a suitable actuator for releasing the gripping devices from the box.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated an appropriate actuator for the purpose mentioned, comprising a leaf spring 8- having one end portion bearing against the outer arm of the bracket land the other end portion tensioncd by passing under a small rod 9 supported by the arms 5, and thence over an additional small rod 10 also supported between said arms. It is obvious that by this construction the actuator spring, exerting pressure upon the rod 10, will depress the handle and disengage the gripping devices 7 from the box wall when the handle is released, and the downward movement of the handle is limited by the rod 10 contacting wlth the extension 2 of the bracket.

The arms 5 may also be provided with a connecting rod 11 which will serve as an abutment to limit upward movement of the handle and to prevent undue compression of the spring 8 by pressing the handle and bracket 1 toward each other when they are detached from the box.

The edges of the gripping devices 7 may be serrated as indicated at 12 in ord er to and to prevent slipping of the handle when the box is lifted. Also, the face of the mner arm of the bracket may be notched or serrated as indicated at 13 for similar purposes.

A detachable box handle of this general construction is very convenient for use in lifting any packed boxes, such for instance as fruit boxes, which ordinarily are not provided with handles in connection therewith. This is particularly true of the boxes used in the extensive fruit growing regionsof.

the United States in which the boxesemployed for packing the fruit are not equipped with handles, and therefore are inconvenient to handle or move. It is very obvious that the device illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 may be attached and detached quickly and conveniently, and the boxes may be readily moved before the cover is affixed without the slightest damage or injury to any of the fruit contents of the box. Likewise, the device will be found of great convenience in handling the boxes in canning factories, and in any places where packed boxes require handling or moving and are not provided with handles in connection therewith.

, The modified or alternative form of the device illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 is produced by omitting the inner arm from the bracket and extending the top portion of the bracket in the form of a blade or plate 14. It will be understood that one of the handles is to be applied at opposite sides or ends of the box, and when the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 is employed, the two plates or blades are super-- imposed one upon the other as illustrated. In this construction one of the blades or plates is formed with an elongated slot 15 receiving two screws 16 in connection with the lower plate, so that the handles may be adjusted varying distances apart to be applied to boxes of different lengths. If neces sary, the screws 16 may be tightened to prevent the handles from slipping apart, but this may be found unnecessary in many uses.

The device illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 is adapted for use in connection with boxes having a closure or cover in connection therewith, in which case the bracket of the other form illustrated could not be engaged with the wall of the box. The handle and its connection with the plates or blades shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are the same as illustrated and described in connection with the other form of the invention.

It will be readily understood that the device may be modified in various other particulars and that in describingthe particular forms of the invention illustrated, I do not confine myself to these specific forms. I contemplate making such alterations and variations as may be found most useful and bracket.

pressed into engagement with the box wall by the movement of the handle in lifting the box, and means for disengaging said extended portions from the box wall when the handle is released.

2. A'detachable box handle, comprising a bracket adapted to embrace the box wall, an arm pivoted to said bracket, a handle in connection with said arm, an extended portion in connection with said arm arranged to be pressed into engagement with the box wall by the movement of the handle in lifting the box, means for holding said arm in position in which the extended portion is out of engagement with the box, and means limiting movement of said arm relative to said 3. A box handle, comprising a handle supnection with a box, a handle pivoted to the support, a gripping device actuated by the handle into connection with the box wall as an incident topower applied to the handle to lift the box, and means for detaching the gripping device from the box.

4. A box handle, comprising a,,handle support, means for holding the sable in connection with a box wall, a handle pivoted to the support, a gripping device actuated by the handle into engagement with the box wall as an incident to the lifting of the box by the handle, and an actuator for disengaging the gripping device'from the box wall.

5. A box handle, comprising a bracket adapted to engage the upper edge of a box wall, a lateral extension in connection with the bracket, a handle pivotally supported by the lateral extension, a gripping device in connection with and actuated by the handle into engagement with the box wall when the handle is lifted, and means for limiting the movement of the handle relative to the bracket.

6. A box handle, comprising a bracket adapted to engage the upper edge of a box wall, a lateral extension in connection with the bracket, a handle pivoted to said extension, a gripping device actuated by the handle for engaging the box wall, means for limiting movement of the handle relative to the bracket, and an actuator for disengag described,

tion of a box Wall between them, a lateral extension in connection with the outer arm. a handle member pivoted to said extension, a handle carried by said handle member, upwardly extending gripping arms in connection with and actuated by said handle memher into engagement with the box wall when the handle is lifted, and means for disengaging said gripping arms from the box Wall when the handle is released.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a bracket composed of inner and outer arms adapted to embrace the edge of a box wall between them, two handle supporting arms pivoted to the outer arm of said bracket. a handle supported by said handle supporting arms, upwardly extended portions in connection with said handle supporting arms actuated by the handle into engagement with the box Wall when the handle is lifted, and means for preventing the bracket from slipping when the box is lifted by said device.

9. A device of the character described, comprising a bracket adapted to engage a box wall, serrations on the bracket for engaging one side of the box Wall, a handle pivoted to said bracket, extensions in con nection with said handle, serrations on said extension arranged to engage the side of the box wall opposite from the serrations on the bracket, and a spring for actuating the handle to disengage the last-named serrations from the box Wall.

In witness whereof, I have signed this specification.

EDGAR s, PORTER. 

